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COYOTES ANNOUNCE RAMPAGE ROSTER SHUFFLE

by
Staff Writer
/ Arizona Coyotes

Team Acquires Pascal Rheaume, Ray Schultz and Steven Spencer From New Jersey Devils In Exchange For Brad Ference

GLENDALE, ARIZONA -- Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Michael Barnett announced today that the Coyotes and San Antonio Rampage (the Coyotes' top minor league affiliate in the American Hockey League) have acquired center Pascal Rheaume and defensemen Ray Schultz and Steven Spencer from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for defenseman Brad Ference.

The 32-year-old Rheaume has played in 12 games this season with New Jersey, registering 4 penalty minutes (PIM). He has also played in 9 games with Albany (AHL), recording 2-0-2 and 9 PIM. In his NHL career, the 6-1, 210-pound forward has played in 317 career games over parts of 9 seasons with New Jersey, St. Louis, Chicago, Atlanta and the New York Rangers, collecting 39-52-91 and 144 PIM. He has also played in 45 career NHL playoff games with St. Louis and New Jersey. In fact, the Quebec City, Quebec native was a member of the New Jersey Devils' 2003 Stanley Cup championship team, playing in 24 postseason games and collecting 1-2-3 and 13 PIM. He was also a member of Albany's 1995 Calder Cup Championship team. Rheaume's best NHL season came in 2001-02 when he tallied 11-11-22 in 61 games with Chicago and Atlanta. The following season, he set a career high in games played with 77 split between Atlanta and New Jersey, registering 8-10-18 in 2002-03. Rheaume was never drafted by an NHL team and originally signed with the Devils as a free agent on Oct. 1, 1992.

The 6-2, 210-pound Schultz has played in 18 games this season with Albany, recording 5 assists and 22 PIM. He has also played in 45 NHL games over parts of six seasons all with the New York Islanders, collecting 4 assists and 155 PIM. The Edmonton, Alberta native also played in 2 career NHL playoff games with the Islanders in 2002 (2 PIM). His best pro season came last year when he set career highs in goals, assists, points and games played with 5-14-19 and 227 PIM in 77 games with Albany. The 29-year-old Schultz was originally drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the 8th round (184th overall) of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft.

Spencer, 23, has played in 15 games (14 PIM) this season with South Carolina of the ECHL. The Regina, Saskatchewan native split last season between South Carolina and Albany, playing in 59 games with 2-5-7 and 135 PIM in 2004-05. Now in his third pro season, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound blueliner played his junior hockey with Swift Current of the Western Hockey League. Spencer was originally drafted by the Nashville Predators in the 9th round (266th overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

Ference played in 19 games this season with San Antonio, registering 2-9-11 and 39 PIM. Since being acquired from the Florida Panthers in a trade on Mar. 8, 2003, the 26-year-old Ference has played in 78 games with the Coyotes, collecting 0-6-6 and 131 PIM. In his NHL career, he has appeared in 245 games split between Florida and Phoenix, recording 4-30-34 and 563 PIM. The 6-3, 218-pound defenseman was originally drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1st round (10th overall) of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.

Rheaume and Schultz will report to San Antonio, where the Rampage will next play at home against Milwaukee tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 26). Spencer will remain with the South Carolina Stingrays.